Our Game: An American Baseball History

This entertaining history blends anecdote, incident, and analysis as it chronicles the story of our national pastime. Alexander covers the advent of the first professional baseball leagues, the game’s surge in the early 20th century, the Golden 20s and the Gray 30s, the breaking of the color line in the late 40s, and the game’s expansion to its current status as a premier team sport. He describes changing playing styles and outstanding teams and personalities, but also demonstrates the many connections to society.

Hanna says:"Learn The Names"

Best Sellers

Peak

Peak Marcello is a 14-year-old who loves to climb things. Unfortunately, living in New York City makes his hobby difficult. After a run-in with the law, Peak is presented with two options: endure Juvenile Detention or reconnect with his estranged father, who runs a climbing operation in Thailand. The choice is easy for Peak, but his father has an ulterior motive for their reunion ? he wants his son to risk his life and become the youngest person to ever scale Mount Everest.

Tears of a Tiger

The night that changes everything in Andy's life begins as a great time. His basketball team wins a big game, and he and his best friend have some cold brews stashed in the car, just waiting for the rolling party to begin. Nothing anyone can say or do afterwards will convince Andy that what happens next isn't his fault.

Heat

Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo lives in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, home of his heroes, but a place that might as well be on a different continent since he can't afford to see the inside. He also lives in the shadows of his Bronx neighborhood, hiding from the bill collectors and the officials who would separate him from his 17-year-old brother if they knew the two boys were living on their own. Baseball is Michael's only salvation.

QB 1

Jake Cullen is a freshman quarterback playing high school football in the high-pressure land of Friday Night Lights (Texas). He is also the brother of Wyatt Cullen, who quarterbacked his team to the Texas State Championship last season - not to mention the son of former NFL quarterback and local legend, Troy Cullen. To be a Cullen in Texas is to be royalty…and a quarterback. All of which leaves 14-year-old Jake in a Texas-sized shadow, a tall order for any boy, especially one who's merely a freshman.

Travel Team

Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court, but don't tell him that. Because no one plays with more heart or court sense. But none of that matters when he is cut from his local travel team, the very same team his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny's father knows Danny isn't the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and together, this washed-up former player and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that the heart simply cannot be measured.

Swindle

Popular author Gordon Korman has sold millions of copies of his irreverant books for young readers. In this fast-paced caper, 11-year-old Griffin Bing finds something far more profitable than cobwebs during a haunted house sleepover - a rare Babe Ruth baseball card. But when a swindler scams the card from Griffin for only $125, the resourceful sixth grader and his friends plot their revenge.

The Boy Who Saved Baseball

In his third book on baseball, John Ritter takes the reader to Dillontown where, through a series of events, the fate of the town rests on the outcome of a baseball game. Tom and a newcomer, Cruz, convince a former Major-League Baseball player to coach the team. The team prepares for the big day by using unorthodox training methods. While the team wins the game, it still takes an unusual set of circumstances to save the town.

Football Genius

When Tory White's mom gets a job with the Atlanta Falcons, Tory demonstrates his uncanny ability to call football plays before they happen. With Troy's genius, the Falcons could be unstoppable-- if only the coaches would take him seriously!

The Secret Door to Success: New Thought Theatre, Book 1

This edition of The Secret Door to Success has a new, creative flair! Immediately following each chapter is a short, theatrical exercise. So teens, young adults, and thespians of all ages can act out an affirmation that embodies the positive message in each chapter. A fun way to practice the principles herein! The more we practice, the more it sticks. You do not have to have any prior acting experience in order to do these exercises. All you have to do is believe....

The Big Field

Hutch has always played shortstop. His idol Derek Jeter, plays the position, and more importantly, so did his father. But when a better shortstop joins the team, Hutch must move to second base. With his father's shadow looming and the championship on the line, Hutch will need to make the adjustment quickly.

Summer Ball

When you're the smallest kid playing a big man's game, the challenges never stop - especially when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny's leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he's out of his element and maybe out of his league.

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery

Steven Thomas is one of two lucky winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association's contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A trip to New Orleans and a coveted press pass for the Final Four. It's a basketball junkie's dream come true!

Honus & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure

Joe Stoshack may be an awkward kid, but he knows baseball - and baseball cards. Since he was seven, he has been collecting them. So when his mother tells him he can earn five dollars by cleaning out an old lady's attic, Joe dreams of the cards he can buy.

Father Water, Mother Woods: Essays on Fishing and Hunting in the North Woods

These essays recount his adventures alone and with friends, taking listeners through the seasons. In Paulsen’s north country, every expedition is a major one, and often hilarious. Once again Gary Paulsen demonstrates why he is one of America’s most beloved writers, for he shows us fishing and hunting as pleasure, as art, as companionship, and as source of life’s deepest lessons.

True Legend

There's a reason teammates call him "True". Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks - and with problems. Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded - and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court....

District Doubleheader

Little league baseball players Liam and Carter are still adjusting to changes since Liam's family moved across the country to California. Liam is faced with having to prove himself all over again to his new teammates. Carter, on the other hand, is having his best season ever. His pitches are unstoppable and it looks like his team might just sweep the competition. That is, until a new pitcher hits the scene.

The Prince of Fenway Park

Twelve-year-old Oscar Egg believes he is cursed, just like the Red Sox. His real parents didn't want him, and now his adopted mom has dumped him off to live with his strange, sickly dad. But there's something Oscar doesn't know. The Boston Red Sox really are cursed, and not just because they sold Babe Ruth in 1919. Someone deliberately jinxed the team, and the secret to breaking the Curse lies deep below Fenway Park.

The Off Season

Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk. She's in 11th grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she's reconnecting in a big way with her best friend, Amber. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who's cute and popular and smart but seems to like her anyway. And then there's the fact that she's starting for the Red Bend High School football team, as the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin, probably. Which just shows you can't predict the future.

Two-Minute Drill

Chris Conlan is the coolest kid in sixth grade - the golden-armed quarterback of the football team, and the boy all the others look up to. Scott Parry is the new kid, the boy with the huge brain, but with feet that trip over themselves daily. These two boys may seem like an odd couple, but each has a secret that draws them together as friends, and proves that the will to succeed is even more important than raw talent.

Dogsong

The graphic, coming-of-age tale of a modern Eskimo lad and his consuming vision quest and harrowing struggle for survival. Troubled by changes in his Alaskan village, 14-year-old Russell Suskitt seeks the counsel of the village elder - and only dog team owner. After his training in the ancient arts of hunting with bow and lance, handling sled dogs, and surviving arctic dangers, Russell embarks upon his lonely search for Eskimo manhood.

FAQs: Teen Life: Frequently Asked Questions About Peer Pressure

Everyone likes to be accepted and admired by others. During the teen years especially, this desire to be liked may lead to some difficult pressures. Should one cheat on a test or lie to a friend in order to be liked by others? And what should a person do when his or her peers start to drink, use drugs, and/or have sex? Friends are often a big influence, and it can be hard to know what to do or how to stand up for one's beliefs. This book deals with peer pressure, an issue every teen must cope with at one time or another.

Life on the Edge

Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream - to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history. Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily's dreams of gold.

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading

When self-proclaimed geek girl Bethany Reynolds becomes the newest member of the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending into the lockers: getting noticed. Who knew cheerleading was so hard? Well, at least there's a manual, The Prairie Stone High Varsity Cheerleading Guide. Too bad it doesn't cover any of the really tough questions. Like, how do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt?

FAQs: Teen Life: Frequently Asked Questions About ADD and ADHD

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect anywhere from 5% to 15% of the general teen population. Practically every classroom in America has at least one child who is dealing with the effects of these conditions. In this book teen readers will learn all about both conditions, including the treatments that are available. The book discusses therapeutic counseling and non medical interventions, as well as commonly prescribed ADD/ADHD medications.

FAQs: Teen Life: Frequently Asked Questions About Puberty

This book presents puberty as an exciting time and assures readers that the changes are worth it. The facts are relayed in a clear, practical, and straightforward manner, separate chapters are devoted to discussing the changes in boys and girls. and a big picture view of why puberty happens and the function and significance of those changes is presented.

FAQs: Teen Life: Frequently Asked Questions About Academic Anxiety

Every student feels stress and anxiety in school at one time or another. It can present itself in a strict teacher's classroom, while trying to complete a test or assignment, or when having to make a speech or presentation. This title examines the causes, signs, and symptoms of academic anxiety and describes how to manage it, as well as how to help a friend or sibling who is struggling with the pressures of academic life.

Cheerleading Skills: Jump and Shout, Book 3

Cheerleaders blend amazing athletic skills and spirited talent to perform breathtaking stunts. They work hard to boost school pride and win over judges at stiff competitions. Coaches expect teamwork, dedication, good grades, and healthy attitudes. From warm-up stretches and proper form to voice projection and time management, this series delivers fun tips and surprising details that score big with listeners!

Cheerleading Gear: Jump and Shout, Book 1

Cheerleaders blend amazing athletic skills and spirited talent to perform breathtaking stunts. They work hard to boost school pride and win over judges at stiff competitions. Coaches expect teamwork, dedication, good grades, and healthy attitudes. From warm-up stretches and proper form to voice projection and time management, this series delivers fun tips and surprising details that score big with listeners!